Effect of surfactants on interfacial films and stability of water-in-oil emulsions stabilized by asphaltenes.

The effect of additives on asphaltene interfacial films and emulsion stability was analyzed through the change in film properties. Surface pressure isotherms were measured at 23°C for model interfaces between aqueous surfactant solutions and asphaltenes dissolved in toluene and heptane-toluene mixtures. Compressibility, crumpling film ratio and surface pressure were determined from the surface pressure isotherms. The stability of water-in-oil emulsions was determined for the same systems based on the proportion of unresolved emulsified water after repeated treatment involving heating at 60°C and centrifugation. Experimental variables included concentration of asphaltenes (5 and 10 kg/m(3)), concentration and type of surfactant (Aerosol OT, nonylphenol ethoxylates, polypropylene oxide block-copolymer, dodecylbenzene sulfonic acids, dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid-polymer blend, diisopropyl naphthalene sulfonic acid, and sodium naphthenate) and aging time (from 10 min to 4 h). Additives were found to have two opposing effects on film properties and emulsion stability: (1) decreasing or eliminating the crumpling ratio which destabilized emulsions and (2) decreasing interfacial tension which enhanced emulsion stability. A stability parameter was defined to include both the crumpling ratio and interfacial tension and provided a consistent correlation for the percent residual emulsified water.